Every year, on the third weekend of September, European Heritage Days (Journées européennes du patrimoine) give free or exceptional access to monuments, institutions and sites that are normally closed to the public or ticketed. Run by the French Ministry of Culture, the event brings together several hundred participating sites in Paris alone each edition, with a different theme from one year to the next. This article is updated with each new edition: the information below reflects the most recent edition known at the time of publication.
The general idea
The event lets visitors enter normally-paid monuments for free, or access places usually closed to the public: ministries, embassies, institutional headquarters and administrative buildings open their doors exceptionally that weekend, often with guided tours organized on site.
The most recent known edition
The 2026 edition took place on 19 and 20 September, built around two themes: photography heritage, and heritage at risk. This information dates from that edition and will be updated as soon as the next one is announced.
Major Paris landmarks that take part
From one edition to the next, places like the Panthéon, the Archives nationales, or the Centre des monuments nationaux offer specific programming. Exact participation and hours vary each year, though, so it's worth checking the official program rather than assuming a site open last year will automatically be open again.
Planning ahead
The full program, maintained by the Réunion des musées nationaux and the Ministry of Culture, goes live on the official European Heritage Days website a few weeks before the event. Some visits, particularly at sites with limited capacity, require booking online in advance, and slots can fill up fast.
Planning around the crowds
The best-known sites (major monuments, flagship ministries) often fill up within the first few hours or come with a substantial queue. Choosing less publicized sites, often just as interesting, is a good way to avoid most of the crush.
Tips
The exact program for the next edition is usually only announced at the end of the preceding summer. If you're planning a Paris trip around mid-September, check the official Heritage Days website in the weeks before your stay rather than relying on a past edition's program. Bring ID for entry to some institutional buildings (ministries, embassies), where security checks can apply just as they would for a normal visit to those sites.
